Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Research Training Program for College and University Studies
EPA Grant Number: CR83558601Title: Research Training Program for College and University Studies
Investigators: Buchberger, Steven
Institution: University of Cincinnati
EPA Project Officer: Jackson, Suzanne
Project Period: May 1, 2014 through April 30, 2017
Project Amount: $1,800,000
RFA: Research Training Program for College and University Students (2013) RFA Text
Research Category: Aquatic Ecosystems , Ecological Indicators/Assessment/Restoration , Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , Watersheds , Endocrine Disruptors , Drinking Water , Waste Reduction and Pollution Prevention , Safer Chemicals , Environment
Objective:
The main objective of the training program was to provide opportunities for domestic undergraduate and graduate students to conduct supervised research at AWBERC while attending school on a full-time basis. A secondary objective was to increase participation of minority students in the broad field of environmental science and engineering. The ultimate goal of the research training program was to produce environmental scientists, engineers and technicians who have had unique educational experiences in a fully operational federal research laboratory and who then may pursue careers in the environmental field.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
Over the course of an 18-year run (1999-2017), the training grant program provided research training opportunities for 205 university students (116 BS level, 69 MS level and 20 PhD level) from seven universities. Scholarly outputs generated by the student trainees include MS theses and PhD dissertations, symposium presentations, display posters, conference proceedings and refereed journal publications. The most recent cohort of 55 trainees, was especially productive. Based on research work performed from May 2014 through April 2017, the latest group of 24 graduate level trainees published 24 journal papers, 5 conference proceedings and gave talks at 24 national symposia.
The participating student trainees represent 12 home departments (mainly STEM based science and engineering) at seven universities. There were slightly more trainees at the BS level than at the graduate level (116 BS versus 89 MS/PhD) and nearly a 50-50 split along gender lines, with men participants slightly outnumbering the women. Twenty-seven of the undergraduate trainees were students from the participating HBCU institutions, mainly Central State University. The majority of the trainees (173 of 205) were UC students. This research training program was a triple win arrangement for USEPA, for the academic institutions (particularly UC) and especially the student trainees. The grant offered tremendous flexibility and accommodated a diverse mixture of BS/MS/PhD level students to best match the USEPA training opportunities. The primary output from the research training program was the guided instruction of about 20 university students per year with experience in a large federal lab.
Conclusions:
Key outcomes include environmental engineers and scientists who:
- have skills needed for immediate entry to the environmental workforce,
- understand basic principles to identify and manage environmental risks,
- diversify the professional community trained in the environmental field.
The research training program was a tremendous success, exceeding all objectives established in the original proposal. The quality and diversity of the student participants was very high. The program was consistently on budget and on schedule. Owing to strong student interest, diligent recruiting, careful mentoring, competitive student compensation and attractive work opportunities, more than 200 student trainees were able to participate. During exit interviews many trainees expressed their appreciation with positive and encouraging comments about their research experience at AWBERC. In addition, unsolicited comments from USEPA mentors and participating faculty advisors were very supportive and encouraging.
Journal Articles on this Report : 20 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
| Other project views: | All 21 publications | 21 publications in selected types | All 20 journal articles |
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Han, C. Lalley J, Iyanna N, Nadagouda MN. Removal of phosphate using calcium and magnesium-modified iron-based adsorbents. Materials Chemistry and Physics2017;198:115-124. |
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Lalley J, Han C, Li X, Dionysiou DD, Nadagouda MN Phosphate adsorption using modified iron oxide-based sorbents in lake water:kinetics, equilibrium, and column tests. Chemical Engineering Journal 2016;284:1386-1396. |
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Lytle DA, Pfaller S, Muhlen C, Struewing I, Triantafyllidou S, White C, Hayes S, King D, Lu JR. A comprehensive evaluation of monochloramine disinfection on water quality, Legionella and other important microorganisms in a hospital. Water Research2021;189 |
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Narayanan M, Davis LC, Tracy JC, Erickson LE, Green RM. Experimental and modeling studies of the fate of organic contaminants in the presence of alfalfa plants. Journal of Hazardous Materials 1995;41(2-3):229-249. |
CR83558601 (Final) R825549C034 (Final) |
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Palanisamy K, Mezgebe B, Sorial GA, Sahle-Demessie E, Biofiltration of Chloroform in a Trickle Bed Air Biofilter under Acidic Conditions. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution2016;227(12):478 |
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Popovici J, White CP, Hoelle L, Lytle DA. Characterization of the Cell Surface Properties of Drinking Water Pathogens by Microbial Adhesion to Hydrocarbon and Electrophoretic Mobility Measurements. Colloids and Surfaces B:Biointerfaces2014;118:126-132 |
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Lytle DA, White C. The Effect of Phosphate on the Properties of Copper Drinking Water Pipes Experiencing Localized Corrosion.Journal Failure Analysis and Prevention2014;14(2):203-219 |
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Lalley J, Han C, Mohan GR, Dionysiou DD, Speth TF, Garland J,Nadagouda MN. Phosphate removal using modified Bayoxide® E33 adsorption media.Environmental Science:Water Research & Technology2015;1(1):96-107 |
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O'Donnell AJ, Lytle DA, Harmon S, Vu K, Chait H, Dionysiou DD. Removal of strontium from drinking water by conventional treatment and lime softening in bench-scale studies. Water Research2016;103:319-333 |
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Vutai V, Ma C, Lu M. The Role of Anaerobic Digestion in Wastewater Treatment. Environmental Manager2016;66:12-16. |
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Weaver, JW, Murray AR, Kremer FV. Estimation of the Proximity of Private Domestic Wells to Underground Storage Tanks:Oklahoma Pilot Study. Science of the Total Environment2017;609:1589-1599 |
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Rossman P, Boccelli D L Pressman, J. Characterizing Ohio River NOM Variability and Reconstituted-Lyophilized NOM as Source Surrogate. Journal of the American Water Works Association2017;109(1):E10-E18 |
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Mezgebe B, Palanisamy K, Sorial GA, Sahle-Demessie E, Hassan AA, Lu J. Comparative Study on the Performance of Anaerobic and Aerobic Biotrickling Filter for Removal of Chloroform. Environmental Engr Science2017;35(5):462-471 |
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Mezgebe B, Sorial GA, Sahle-Demessie E, Hassan AA, Lu J. Performance of Anaerobic Bio-trickling Filter and Its Microbial Diversity for Removal of Stripped Disinfection By-products.Water, Air, and Soil Pollution2017;228:1-437 |
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Wasserstrom LW, Miller SA, Triantafyllidou S, Desantis MK, Schock MR. Scale Formation Under Blended Phosphate Treatment for a Utility with Lead Pipes. Journal of the American Water Works Association2017;109(11):E464-E478. |
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Martin E, Lalley J, Wan W, Nadagouda MN, Sahle-Demessie E, Chae S. Phosphate recovery from water using cellulose enhanced magnesium carbonate pellets:Kinetics, isotherms, and desorption.Chemical Engineering Journal2018;352:612-624. |
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Fries AE, Townsend-Small A, Shuster W, Schifman LA. Streetlevel emissions of methane and nitrous oxide from the wastewater collection system in Cincinnati, Ohio. Environmental Pollution2018;236:247-256. |
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Smith SW, Hanks N, Creed PA, Kovalcik K, Wilson RA, Kubachka K, Brisbin, JA, Landero-Figueroa J, Creed JT. Analytical considerations associated with implementing M2+ correction factors to address false positives on As and Se within U.S. EPA method 200.8. Journal Analytical Atomic Spectrometry2019;34(10):2094-2104 |
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Berberich M, Beaulieu JJ, Hamilton TL, Waldo S, Buffam, I. Spatial variability of sediment methane production and methanogen communities within a eutrophic reservoir:importance of organic matter source and quantity. Limnology and Oceanography2019. |
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Mezgebe B, et al. Effectiveness of biosurfactant for the removal of trihalomethanes by biotrickling filter.Engineering Reports2019;1:e12031 |
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Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.